Fluid clutch



M 31, 1945. w R MQKAY 2,380,660

FLUID CLUTCH Original Filed July 19, 1941 MCKAY,

NVENTOR.

W/ZA/AM E; I

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 31, 1945 {'LUID CLUTCH William R. McKay. Compton, CalilL, asslgnor of one-half to Harry F. Langlois and Herbert N. Langlois, both of Los Angeles, Calif.

Original application July 19, 1941, Serlal No. 403.167. Divided and this application February 10. 1943. Serial No. 475.383

9 Claims.

My invention relates to fluid clutches and is a division of my application for variable speed transmission mechanism, Serial Number 403,167, filed July 19. 1941, now Patent No. 2,321,226.

A purpose of my. invention is the provision of a fluid clutch characterized by its ability to in crease the power transmission or torque from driving rotor to driven rotor, over previously de signed clutches: to simplify the construction of fluid clutches; and to provide a concentric arrangement of driving and driven rotors to reduce the overall width of the clutch so that a plurality of such clutches may be arranged within a relatively small compass and thus successfully incorporated in a transmission mechanism of the character embodied in my parent application above recited.

I will describe only one form of fluid clutch embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view showing one form of fluid clutch embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is vertical sectional view taken on, the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the driving rotor of the fluid clutch shown in the preceding views.

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the driven rotor of the fluid clutch shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the several views, my invention in its present embodiment comprises a casing made up of a front section S and a rear section 5, and within which is contained the driving rotor R and the driven rotor R of my clutch.

RID

any suitable means. One end of a driven shaft extends through the disk l9 by the provision therein of an opening which is relatively large and eccentric to both disks l5 and I! in order to compensate for the motion of the shaft 24 which is eccentric to the casing C and to the driving shaft 22.

To maintain the casing C fluid tight about the driven shaft 24 the opening is closed by a plate 26 provided with a collar 21 secured to the shaft by a screw 28. The joint between the plate and the disk is closed by a gasket 29 secured in the plate.

As best shown in Fig. 3. the driving rotor R. comprises a disk 30 having an axial hub 3| and an annular series of equi-distantly spaced radial flngers 32 on its periphery. Each finger has formed thereon a vane 33 disposed at right angles thereto and of less length than the finger. These vanes provide an annular series all of which are disposed to one side of the disk at.

As shown to advantage in Fig. 4. the driven rotor R is made up of a disk 36 smaller than the rotor disk at but having an axial hub and peripherial recesses providing an annular series of equi-distantly spaced and tapered fingers 36. On one side of each finger is fixed a the fingers are disposed similarly to the fingers.

with the confronting edge of the annulus is to provide a fluid tight chamber in which the rotors R and R operate.

The two sections S and S are secured to each other by an annular series of bolts 2i which extend As the rotors R and R are assembled in the casing 'C, the hub 36 of the rotor R. is not fixed to the inner end of the shaft 25 so that the rotor is free to rotate on the shaft However. the driving rotor R is caused to rotate with the casing when the latter is driven by the shaft '22. because the bolts are in engagement with one edge of the fingers 32. The rotor R has its hub 35 receiving the shaft 2%, and transmits its rotary motion to the shaft by having its hub fixed to the shaft by a pin 38.

With the rotors R and R mounted on the shaft 26 as described, and the shaft 24 eccentric to the casing C as well as to the shaft 22,

it becomes apparent that when the clutch is in operation the two rotors move eccentrically of the casing. and the shaft 22, and at all times provide a chamber E of substantially crescent form between the circle defined by the fingers 32 and the inner periphery of the casing. It also becomes apparent that the series or vanes til 2 are'withln thecircle defined by the inner ends "or the series foi'gizanes 33, and that the overall width of the two rotors is equal only to the width of the riying rotor.

In practice h casing is adapted to be par- Fig. 2, to, in turn, drive the rotor R through the bolts 2 I. Under such rotationof' the casing centrifugal force moves the fluid in the casing out- I wardly against the inner wall thereof to assume a circular form thednner boundary of which is defined by the broken line in Hg. 2. Here the fluid is rotated by the vanes 33 of the driving rotor as well as the casing, to generate kinetic energy in the fluid. Inasmuch as the driven rotor vanes 31 project into the now rotating body of fluid, thelrinetic energy possessed by the fluid is expended against the vanes 31. thereby transferringthe'torque of the driving rotor to the driven rotor.

By reason of the eccentric mounting of the rotors R and R in the casing C, the fluid is permitted to run free with the housing through the wide portion of the chamber But through the narrow portion of the chamber the fluid is forced into contact with the vanes 37. During the e running period of the'fiuld, kinetic energy is accumulated therein to a maximum, because its motion is unimpeded, by the vanes 31. However, during the major and remaining period ofthe cycle of fluid, circulation, that energy thus accumulated is expended fully against the vanes El.

In this manner is effected the hydraulic transfer of torque from the driving rotor to the driven rotor, with only a minimum of power loss. This power loss is further reduced by virtue of the angular arrangement of vanes 31, for it will be clear that as the fluid is impelled against the vanes 31 by the vanes 33,, such angular position- 'tially filled with any suitable fluid through the the series of vanes of the driving member, a re tatable casing housing said'members, and means for mountin said casing and said members for rotation about different axes.

3. In a fluid clutch, a driving member having a circular series of radially disposed vanes, and a driven member having a circular series of vanes concentrically within the series of vanes of the driving member and with each vane disposed at an angle to the vanes of the driving member, a casing housing said members, and means for mounting said casing and said members for rotation about different axes.

4. In a fluid clutch: a rotatable casing; a driving rotor mounted eccentrically within said casing; a driving connection between said casing and said rotor; and a driven rotor mounted concentrically within said driving. rotor.

5. In a fluid clutch: a rotatable casing; a driving rotor mounted eccentrically within said casing; a driving connection between said casing and said rotor; and a driven rotor mounted conin of the vanes 37 causes a maximum expansion theroagainst of the energy accumulated in the fluid.

Another factor which contributes to high an- .ciency in power transfer from the driving rotor to the driven rotor, is the fact that because of the concentric arrangement of the two circular eries of rotor vanes, there is practically no leakage of fluid between the two series of vanes.

In the operation of the fluid clutch, the rotors R and R having a center of rotation offset in respect to the center of rotation of the casing C,

there is of necessity relative movement radially between the rotors and the casing, which is permitted by the eccentric opening 25, and the spacing of the fingers 32 which allows the bolts 2! to move inwardly and outwardly.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of fluid clutch, embodying my invention, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A fluid clutch. comprising: an axially rotatcentrically Within said driving rotor, and having vanes extending spirally in the direction of rotation thereof.

chamber.

'7. As an article of manufacture, a driven rotor for fluid clutches, comprising a disk having an annular series of fingers on the periphery thereof and said fingers disposed at an angle to lines radially of said disk; and vanes fixed to one side of said fingers along the major axes thereof.

8. A fiuid clutch comprising: an. axially rotatable casing having a circular chamber therein; an annular series of members secured to and ex tending inwardly from one side of said casing; a driving rotor having perlpherial fingers engageable by said members to form a driving connection between said casing and said rotor; vanes fixed to and extending laterally from one side of said rotor; a driven rotor in said casing and dishosed within the area defined by said vanes, and having peripherial fingers. and vanes fixed to and extending laterally from that side of said fingers confronting the fingers of said driving rotor, and means for mounting. said rotors and said casing for rotation about different axes.

9. A fluid clutch as embodied in claim 8. wherein the vanes of said driven rotor are disposed at a fixed angle to the vanes of the driving rotor.

WHiLIAM R. MCKAY. 

